GECs
Endemol Shine India to create original series on ‘Trial By Fire: The Tragic Tale of the Uphaar Fire Tragedy’
MUMBAI: Endemol Shine India today announced that they will be creating an original series based on Neelam and Shekhar Krishnamoorthy’s book Trial By Fire: The Tragic Tale of the Uphaar Fire Tragedy. The series will be helmed by Prashant Nair whose 2015 film, ’Umrika’, is the only Indian feature film to ever win an award at the Sundance Film Festival and who recently directed ‘Made in Heaven’. Mumbai-based company- The Story Ink put together the project and its founder Sidharth Jain will be a producer on the series.
A first-hand account of the Uphaar Cinema fire in Delhi in 1997, the book has been written by Neelam and Shekhar Krishnamoorthy who fought for justice for 19 years for their children, Unnati and Ujjwal, who were amongst the 59 people killed in the incident. The book, written in the voice of Neelam, follows the lives of the couple after the Uphaar tragedy as they wage a never-ending battle against the owners of the cinema. In their quest to get justice for the Uphaar victims, the Krishnamoorthy’s end up playing different roles researchers, legal assistants to their attorney and, finally, activists. The book also glimpses into their moments of weakness, their anguish, anger and mourning and most importantly their persistence. Trial by Fire also makes a strong argument that public spaces are still vulnerable to such tragedies and that another Uphaar could happen today.
Endemol Shine India CEO Abhishek Rege said, ‘We at Endemol Shine India are always on the lookout for stories and characters that will touch an audience at its core. At the heart of this story is the Krishnamoorthys’ determination to fight in memory of their children and lays bare their personal loss and struggle for closure. The loss of a child and the anguish of the parents who are fighting for justice on behalf of their children are difficult emotions and Prashant Nair was the perfect choice to bring this authentic, sensitive and hard-hitting real-life tragedy to screen.”
“The premise of this book is every parent’s worst nightmare. Fifty-nine people lost their lives that day because the institutions we rely on for our safety and well-being every day failed across the board. The Krishnamoorthys’ wrote their book because they wanted to make sure this never happens again and I’m honored they and Endemol Shine have entrusted me with the responsibility of bringing this devastating story to screen.” said Prashant Nair, director and showrunner for Trial by Fire.
Authors and parents Neelam and Shekhar Krishnamoorthy said, "When we first met Sidharth for taking our story to screen, we were certain that he would find the right team to tell this story. We look forward to collaborating with Endemol Shine India, The Story Ink and Prashant for bringing to screen our two-decade old battle. We hope that this series is an apt ode to our children and the fifty-seven other victims, as it brings to light to a wider audience the horror of the Uphaar Cinema fire and our struggle for Justice.”
“When I discovered the book and met the Krishnamoothys’, I was so moved by their journey that I promised them that telling their story to global audiences, would be a personal mission for me. Endemol Shine India and Prashant were my first choices to collaborate with on this project and I am delighted that it is coming together just as I had envisioned. This is one of the several projects that we are developing and producing together with Endemol Shine India and am very excited to collaborate with them in creating a compelling slate of projects across formats,” said The Story Ink founder and Chief Storyteller Sidharth Jain.
Trial by Fire is not just about the Krishnamoorthys’ personal loss and struggle to get justice, but the heart of the story is the Krishnamoorthys’ determination to fight in memory of their children
Endemol Shine India is currently creating Bombay Begums –- written and directed by Alankrita Shrivastava for Netflix in India. The company is also joining forces with Shekhar Kapur and UK production company Tiger Aspect to develop The Ibis Trilogy for the international market.
GECs
Asianet Television Awards 2026 celebrates women power in Malayalam TV
“She is the Colour” theme honours icons as ceremony airs on March 14 and 15 at 7 PM.
MUMBAI: If television lights up living rooms, this year Asianet decided to let women provide the colour. The Asianet Television Awards 2026 turned the spotlight firmly on women empowerment with the theme “She is the Colour”, celebrating the strength, resilience and achievements of women who continue to shape society and the Malayalam entertainment industry.
The ceremony honoured several distinguished personalities whose journeys have left a lasting cultural imprint. Among them was legendary playback singer Vimala Varma, widely recognised as the first Malayalam playback singer. The evening also paid tribute to Padma Shri awardees Devaki Amma and Vimala Menon for their exceptional contributions in their respective fields.
Leading women from the Malayalam film industry were also recognised during the event, including actor Shweta Menon, who currently serves as president of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists, and National Award winning actor Surabhi Lakshmi.
The awards ceremony brought together a glittering lineup of actors and industry figures, including Jayasurya, Vijay Babu, Asha Sarath, Lena, Esther Anil, Anumol, Akhila Bhargavan, Sarayu Mohan, Prajod Kalabhavan, Gayathri Suresh, Sabumon Abdusamad, Swasika, Tini Tom, Sijoy Varghese, Kailash, Veena Nandakumar, Sabareesh Varma, Ansiba Hassan and Dinesh Prabhakar. Kishan Kumar, executive vice president Malayalam at JioStar, was also present at the event.
Beyond individual recognitions, the awards celebrated excellence across Malayalam television, acknowledging artists and technicians whose work continues to drive the industry forward.
The evening also offered plenty of spectacle, with elaborate dance performances, stunt acts and comedy skits performed by popular television and film personalities, turning the ceremony into a full fledged entertainment showcase.
Viewers will get to watch the celebrations when the Asianet Television Awards 2026 air on Asianet on March 14 and 15, Saturday and Sunday, from 7 pm onwards, bringing the star studded tribute to homes across Kerala and beyond.
